Kingston, NY, August 19, 2018

Our second day on the Hudson was a beautiful, clear, and VERY hot day! Between what natural breeze there was and our boat’s speed, we cancelled out any effective breeze. I’m not a hot weather girl, and I know I whined way too much on this long day’s cruise! We had had some problem with the generator's fuel line, or we would have fired it up and driven from the enclosed pilot house with a/c!

Finally, we arrived in Kingston, on Rondout Creek off the Hudson.

We docked at the Hudson River Marine Museum – they have just a few spaces, and we were able to get in. The museum was very nicely done, very informative and enjoyable. The museum was free for boaters docked there!

There was an entire section about the Erie Canal, which we will reach in about two more days. What an undertaking that was! President Jefferson thought it was a crazy plan, so refused to fund it. Far-thinking Governor Clinton supported it, and the State of New York got it done. The State was repaid their cost in just about 12 years. The Canal reduced the cost of shipping by 90% - it is what made New York City the major port it is today and why New York is called “The Empire State”. I was particularly interested in the photographs of the children who lived their lives with their parents on canal boats. It must have been a hard and interesting existence! What stories they must have had as they grew into adults.

There was a volunteer there at the museum whose job it is to dust the many meticulously constructed model boats – many are quite old. Such a tedious, but such an important job!

Kingston is another nice town, nestled on the banks of the Rondout Creek. We ate in a couple of their restaurants near the waterfront. We had some liquid libation in a small bar, where some local guys hang out. I asked them why there was only Yankee and Mets banners on the walls! We had fun bantering back and forth.

One morning, as I walked into our galley, I saw several heads smoothly passing the boat. When I got my camera and exited the back door, I saw the very long scow (about 63 feet!) with 8 rowers coming in to the floating dock. They keep the scows and paddles there next to the museum. Very cool to see them in operation, and how they had to exit the vessel (very carefully and only two at a time to keep it balanced).

Dan and I got our doggie fix one evening – a man came with his two dogs to the grassy area by the docks. We sat with him and the pups, who graciously allowed us to pet and love on them.

One note about bridges – there are many across the Hudson, and I took pictures of most of them. I think they might be one of the most beautiful structures that man has created. I didn’t bother collecting the names of these bridges, just collected pictures from our vantage point. It is interesting to first barely discern that a bridge is up there, then to see its image develop, and then to see it from just below on the river. Love it!